Methadone Saves Lives

“Opioid dependence is a growing problem in our communities and our practices. As health professionals, we need to respond”
Peter Selby, MBBS, CCFP, Clinical Director of Addictions, CAMH

Whether you are a physician, pharmacist, nurse, counselor or case manager, you will likely have clients or patients in your practice with opioid dependence problems. There are resources to assist you in providing the best care for patients with an opioid addiction.

Training

Opioid Dependence Treatment Core Course

This 12-hour accredited course consists of: five self-directed online tutorials and a one-day classroom course. A comprehensive certificate program is also available and consists of the core course plus several electives. For more information click here (PDF).

Support

Addiction Clinical Education Service
1 888 720-2227 or 416 595-6968 in the Toronto area
Hours of operation: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Provides Health care professionals with an MMT caseload with access to educational resources. Staff will assess your query and the appropriate consultant (medical, psychosocial or pharmacy) will return your call.

CAMH Methadone Clinic Toolkit
Provides health care professionals with information on setting up a methadone clinic.
Click here to access the Clinic Toolkit

New Resources

DVD & User Guide - Prescription for Addiction (Short Version) Kit

Information

For general information about MMT - Health Canada - Best Practices: Methadone Maintenance Treatment guidelines

Methadone Saves Lives. Health Care Professionals and Methadone Maintenance Treatment Brochure

Methadone Saves Lives. Addiction Counsellors and Methadone Maintenance Treatment Brochure

For information about methadone (and other substances) in pregnancy and lactation, click here.

Information for community activities: Methadone Maintenance Treatment: A Community Planning Guide

Information on the impact of stigma on people with addictions and mental health: Beyond the Label.

For Physicians

A Physician’s Guide to Treatment

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario Methadone Maintenance Guidelines.

For information about how to apply for an exemption to be able to prescribe methadone for opioid dependence contact Nadia Mura, College of Physicians and Surgeons, (416) 967-2600 ext 365.

For Nurses
For information about the forthcoming clinical practice guidelines:Clinical Practice Guidelines

For Pharmacists

A Pharmacist’s Guide to Treatment

Methadone Maintenance Treatment: Recommendations for Enhancing Pharmacy Services

The Ontario College of Pharmacists Policy for Dispensing Methadone

For Counsellors and Case Managers

A Counsellor’s Guide to Treatment

Methadone Maintenance Treatment - Best Practices in Case Management | PDF

Information for Your Clients or Patients

CAMH also provides information that you can provide directly to clients and patients who are either on or considering MMT.

Information for Clients

Methadone Maintenance Treatment Client Handbook (PDF)

Methadone Saves Lives. Prescription Painkillers and Methadone Maintenance Treatment Brochure

News & Research

Prescription Painkiller and Ontario Students:

The non-medical use of opioid painkillers, such as Percocet, ranked 3^rd at 21% as the most commonly used drug among Ontario students and 72% of Ontario students obtain opioid painkillers from home. To learn more about this study, visit these links: 2007 OSDUHS: Drug Report Highlights and 1977-2007 Drug Use Among Ontario Students.
Please visit the following useful websites/resources:
- Monitoring the Future
- National Institute on Drug Abuse

CAMH Related Research

Elkader, A.K., Brands, B., Dunn, E., Selby, P., Sproule, B.A. Major depressive disorder and patient satisfaction in relation to methadone pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in stabilized methadone maintenance patients. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2009;29: 77-81.
- If you are an employee at CAMH, click here to read the article.
- If you are a non-CAMH employee, click here to read the abstract.
Sproule, B., Brands, B., Li, S., Catz-Biro, L. Changing patterns in opioid addiction: characterizing users of oxycodone and other opioids. Can Fam Physician. 2009;55: 69-69e5.
- If you are an employee at CAMH, click here to read the article.
- If you are a non-CAMH employee, click here to read the abstract.

Methadone Saves Lives

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